Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, Melissa!  The day started with cinnamon swirl pancakes and hugs from Alena and Nora.  They love their Mommy so much, they had quite a pile of gifts prepared for her to open.  We went south to visit Grandma Dee and Grandpa Ed for the day.  There was a quite a bit of playing with Barbies - Grandma Dee is very skilled at "Barbie Play".

The twins.  Melissa always wanted twins (not)

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma Dee, too.

The Graduate

Alena had her preschool graduation ceremony yesterday.  All grandparents, Mommy, Daddy, and Nora were on hand to witness the big event.  Alena loved her time with Ms. Michelle and Ms. Coralie and made some new friends.  Her best friends are Maya, Kashmala, and Peter.  I am sure she will miss them all as she moves on to a new preschool next year!  The ceremony kicked off with a goofy song then a poem.  They weren't too vocal of a group, but when we got home, Alena recited the poem for us and it was very good.  While the other rooms were performing, the fours changed into their graduation attire.  Pomp and Circumstance played, and they each were presented a diploma then asked what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Alena answered, "astronaut."  Some of her classmates' responses: work with my dad, doctor, a mom in a big house, firefighter, and power ranger.  The previous week, Daddy visited the class and showed them how to make pots on the wheel with Alena as his special helper. All of the kids worked very hard glazing plates and making pinch pots, and they gave them to their moms after graduation for Mother's Day.

Baby cousins

We had a great time last weekend visiting new baby cousins!  Alice Louise Hostetler and Nina Ruth Penniman are the two cutest babies in the Twin Cities!  They spent most of the time we were there eating, so they will fit into the family well.  Alena was excited to hold the babies, but she quickly lost interest when Lily and Finn were around.  Lily went through her closet and gave Alena her clothes that no longer fit her.  It was good timing because it got up to 80 degrees and I had only packed long sleeves.  Nora got to hold Baby Alice and was very upset when she had to give her up.  She was also upset when I held a baby.  "No baby, my mommy!" 

A good looking bunch of cousins

Alena and Alice, Nora and Nina

Daddy hasn't lost his touch 

It was all fun and games until the kite got stuck in the tree.  Then it was even more fun as a picnicking family came to our rescue and got the kite out.

The four-year-old pair had a great time together.  One of their favorite things was rubbing leaves in each other's hair (this seemed better than their earlier game of hitting each other with sticks.)

We are going to have to come back this summer to swim in this cool pool.

Happy birthday to Nora!

Nora celebrated her second birthday on Saturday.  Both sets of grandparents came as well as her local cousins.  Some of the present highlights were a marble run from Grandma and Grandpa Jensen, a pull behind puppy from Gisele, and a rocking chair made by grandpa Ed.  Our neighbor Kory brought over a new pink and white dress that Nora immediately wanted to try on.  Alena claimed the Furreal puppy and named it Sophia.  Ruby is freaked out by the puppy.  Nora loved opening her presents and Alena and Tillie were very excited to try to help.  We had pizza for supper and a special chocolate puppy cake for dessert.

Easter

The girls had a fun Easter hunting for eggs around our house and then at Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house.  Alena woke up and saw the eggs and was excited to get to looking for them.  We went to wake up Nora first.  Nora didn't want to get out of bed, but when I handed her an egg full of coins she was eager.  Not many eggs were collected before they started opening them and eating jelly beans.  Nora's favorite find was Reese's eggs.  She was unwilling to share them (I don't know how she knew they were the best candy.)  Alena was excited by the money. "How did the Easter Bunny know I wanted money?"  She was also impressed that the Easter Bunny knew she wanted a hula hoop.  Other Alena quotes: "That was a funny place to hide an egg" (on the toilet paper roll.)  "Yay, matching dresses!" (these were Lily and Alena's dresses three years ago.)  "I will help Nora get eggs that are too high for her to reach."  Both girls got rainboots and chalk and a kite to share.

Alena gets crafty

Alena has been getting into art more lately.  We were at the grocery store this morning and they had pictures for a coloring contest.  As soon as we got home, Alena got her crayons and headed up to her room and shut the door.  Half an hour later, she came down with this masterpiece.  She does not want to take it back to Hy-Vee.  Alena and I also made a lego garden.  I made flowers and and hearts and she made stems for the flowers and arranged them.  It was a pretty cool garden!

Annie Nora

Nora has picked up the Annie bug from her big sis.  Her favorite book is Alena's Annie book, she is constantly singing "Tomorrow," and she calls my cell phone "Annie" because the background is Alena in her Halloween costume.  This has been going on for several months.  This picture sums up Nora's loves: Annie, Puppy, puppy outfit, and baby dolls.  Nora's nicknames right now are "ya do" and "me too."  Anything that Alena does or eats Nora says, "me too!"  She is lucky her sister is a pretty good sport about it.  She is always saying "Thank you, ya ya," or "No, ya ya," depending on how nicely her sister is treating her. She still is referring to herself as "me" with no attempt at saying "Nora."

Snow castle

Two snowstorms this week gave us the opportunity to build this cool snow castle.  The first picture is from the first storm.  Improvements were made the second day including an escape tunnel and a smaller door on the other side.

Daddy turns 34

We had fun celebrating Daddy's birthday last week.  Nora and I made granola and Alena decorated the package.  Everyone was excited to sample the birthday cake!

Both girls had to show off the birthday cards that they made at Ms. Pam's.  Alena also added to the festive mood by drawing rainbows on paper and hanging them up in the doorway.

Haircuts

Alena had the great idea to cut her own hair Wednesday after preschool.  She cut off most of her bangs to 1 inch, then butchered some side hair.  She was very proud of the haircut, but it was driving me crazy looking at it.  She said that her bangs were in her eyes and that the hair "fell out."  Then she started carrying the hair around in a ziplock bag like a trophy.  I think the stylist did a pretty good job of making it look decent.  As long as this never happens again!  I thought it would be a good time to introduce Nora to a haircut while big sis was doing it.  She actually did a great job!  She sat pretty still and didn't scream. It probably helped that "Lady and the Tramp" was playing on the TV. Her hair is so pretty and not too mullety so we just got her a little trim.  There are no after pictures, because she had to go straight to her nap (and it is barely noticeable.)

Dressing up

Alena's favorite thing right now is dress up and pretending.  Nora's favorite thing is anything Alena does.  Here are some of the costumes they have worn this month.

Fairy (Periwinkle from her favorite move, Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings.)

 Baby Skirt (Super Girl and Blanket Boy not pictured)

Fairy Princess Crystal

Annie with the birthday girl

Ladybug Girl

Little Annie

First snow

 We had the first snow of the year the week before Christmas.  They were calling for up to a foot of snow.  We lucked out and got more like 5 inches.  It started snowing at 6pm the night before and Alena really wanted to get outside to catch a snowflake on her tongue.  The next morning we woke up to a blizzard.  The girls still wanted to go outside and they had to be dragged back in.  Nora does not like walking in the snow.  It is hard to manage with her little legs and she is always falling down.  She also does not like sledding.  She really does not like being photographed in her little red snow suit. The novelty of snow wore off quickly.